China Beats USA 11-9 in First of Three Water Polo Exhibition Matches

DAVIS, California, June 22. THE Schaal Aquatic Center and UC-Davis played host to the first of three exhibition matches between the USA Women's Senior National Team and the Chinese National Team on Tuesday evening. Team China rallied with a strong fourth quarter to take game one of the series with an 11-9 victory.

The Chinese quickly got on the board with 6:21 remaining in the first period, taking a 1-0 lead. The US responded as they stopped two power plays within a span of 1:47 in the first quarter. With 2:35 left, Team USA's Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara WPF) fired a shot in from 2 meters tying the game at 1-1. Team USA went back to the center spot, as they scored back to back goals courtesy of Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/SET) helping the United States to a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period.

China started the second period strong, scoring on a counter attack making it a 3-2 game. 24 seconds after the Chinese scored, Forel Davies (Carlsbad, CA/SD Shores) fired one in from the outside, giving the US a two goal lead as they went up 4-2. The Chinese rebounded, by scoring a goal of their own, with 5:01 remaining in the second period, but the USA was still on top 4-3. It wasn't long before Team USA's Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/NYAC) gave the USA a two goal lead back as she scored off of a counter attack giving the red, white, and blue a 5-3 advantage. China again, answered back with a goal and were back within one of Team USA. The USA remained on top with a 5-4 lead and with 2:38 left in the second period Erika Figge (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/SET) made it a two goal lead at 6-4 hitting from deep.

Trailing 6-4 at halftime the Chinese battled back to start the third scoring on a lob shot early in the period to close within 6-5. The United States answered less than thirty seconds later when Lolo Silver (Long Beach, CA/NYAC) took a dish from Heather Petri (Orinda, CA/NYAC) and put the shot away for a 7-5 game. China scored again to draw within a goal at 7-6 but again the United States answered when Figge converted a five meter penalty drawn by Dries for an 8-6 advantage. With less than 30 seconds left in the period China scored on a lob shot to make it 8-7 but the USA went right back inside to Craig who powered home a shot with just three seconds left in the period for a 9-7 lead after three.

That, however, would be all for the United States offense on this night. The fourth quarter belonged to the Chinese. Showing no ill effects from a lengthy flight earlier in the day the Chinese finished strong drawing a five meter penalty just seconds into the final frame and converting for a 9-8 game. Some 90 seconds later China would tie the game on a counter attack score and with 4:21 remaining a lob shot from the Chinese would bring them all the way back into the lead at 10-9, their first lead since 1-0. The gamebreaker would come at the 2:18 mark when China converted on a power play goal to build a two goal lead at 11-9. Last chances for the United States would be fruitless and China grabbed the win 11-9.

Tumua Anae (Newport Beach, CA/SoCal) went the distance in the cage for the United States posting 8 saves. China converted 3-9 power plays while the United States went 0-4. Both squads were a perfect 1-1 on penalty shots. The two teams will get together on Wednesday evening at the Dougherty Valley Aquatic Center in San Ramon for the second of three games this week in Northern California. The game beings at 8pm and tickets will be available at the gate.

Scoring

USA 9 (3, 3, 3, 0) K. Craig 2, A. Dries 2, E. Figge 2, F. Davies 1, L. Wenger 1, L. Silver
CHN 11 (1, 3, 3, 4)

Saves – USA – T. Anae 8

6×5 – USA 0-4 – CHN 3-9
Penalties – USA 1-1 – CHN 1-1

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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